William h



AW. H. BUELL.

CHARGE FOR PRIMERS.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.31. |917.

1,398,394. Patented July 1919 UNITED s TATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

WILLIAM H. BUELL, NEW HAVEN. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO E. I. nu PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A COBPORATION OE DELA- WARE.

i T 0 all whom 'it may concern.'

and exact description thereof.

My invention relates particularly -to prim-A ing charges for igniting powders of various kinds, including smokeless and black powders, especially as used in connection with center-tire and rimtire ammunition, as, for example, small arms ammunition.

u The object of my invention is to provide s a priming chargewhich is specially adapted and particularly small.

for use in firearms, arms. l Another object of my invention is to provide a priming charge adapted to produce a progressive 'explosion without too great a ylocalpressure and producing sutiieient heat.

to insure a rapid and even ignition of the owder in the cartridge, so that the powder Awillloe completely ignited within the barrel of the firearm, thus obviating variations in ballistics, muzzle flashes, etc.

A further object is to avoid the possibility of amalgamation between the constituents of v,the priming charge and the brass shell or other adjacent parts, which takes place in the case where ulminate of mercury is present.

A further object is to provide'priming charges adapted to produce a hotter flame and better ignition ot the so-called progressive powders, and which are also very sensitive.

A further object is to provide priming charges containing tetra-nitro-methyl-anilin, represented by the formula on2 (No2) 3Nonano2 and which may be graphically represented 'as follows CH3 C.N

NO2 Nogl C.NO2 H.C (LH pound contains an unusually large percent- CHARGE FOR PRIMER/S.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 1 1915i,

I Application filed August 31, 1917. Serial No. 189,117.

age of oxygen, which aids proportionately in bringing about the combustion ot any the uel'ingre'dients present, thus producing a hot and uniform flame.

Vliile priming charges may be made in many different ways in accordance with m`,\' invention, I will describe only, hereinafter` certain examples .ot priming charges made in accordance with my invention.

For example, l may make a priming charge comprising: tetra-nitro-methyl-anilin, either alone or mixed with an oxidizing otl i agent and a fuel, or in combination with a metallic sulfo-cyanatc, an oxidizing agent and a fuel. l

A priming charge made my invention may be comprised oithe tollowing constituents in the proportions statedt I Parts by weight. Tetra-nitro-methyl-anilin 15 Potassium chlorate 55 Antimony sulfid 3o Another composition made in aecordame with my invention may be the following:-

Parts by weight. Tetra-nitro-methy i-anilin 15 Sulfo-cyanate of lead 1() Potassium chlorate 5() Antimony sultid 15 It is to be understood, however, that the proportions may be varied as Jr'ound desirable and to take into account the trade va ria tions in the strengths of the ingredients.

Furthermore, in the place of the sultocyanate of lead, other sulto-cyanates, as tor example the sulto-eyanate of copper, may/be used; and, vin the place of potassium ehlorate, some other oxidizing agent, as for example, potassium perchlorate or potassium nitrate or perchlorate ot' barium or peroxid of barium, may be used.

Furthermore, other ingredients may be added, if desired, as, for example, powdered glass, which renders the mixture more sensi tive.

vWhile, priming charges of this character are capable of being used in many different ways and may be used in containers ot many diiferent types, I have shown only certain types tifpiimers containing suchjcharges in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a primer made in accordance with my invention and adapted to be applied to center-fire ammunition;

Fig. 2 shows a rim-fire shell provided with a charge of thischaracter.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the primer shown in cross section in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, referring particularly to \Fig. 1, I have shown the primer cup 1, in which a charge 2 of the priming composition has been seated by moistening it with a solution of gum, as, for example, gum arabic or gum tragacanth and then introduced into the cup 1 by heavy pressure. Thereafterthe charge may be covered with a layer 3 of paper or tinfoil or a thin film of collodion or gum,- as, for example, gum arabic or gum tragacanth. An anvil 4 may then be inserted in the cup.

As shown in Fig. 2, a rim-fire shell 5 may be provided with a priming charge 6 bygiving the priming charge a coating of the gum solution above referred to in connection With Fig. 1 and then seating it in the annular rim of the shell by centrifugal force. The priming charge may then be covered by a layer 7 of collodion or gum, as, for example, gum arabic or gum tragacanth.

Priming charges made in this manner have not only theI characteristics above referred to, but are homogeneous in ch'aracter, and produce a fiame lwithout an 4excess of pressure, but having the proper velocity and the intensity vof heat to ignite the main charge before imparting to it Vany appreciable motion before ignition. Furthermore, the effect is to produce the maximum pressure Within the breech of the firearm and not to delay the ignition until the charge is near the muzzle of the barrel, Wherethe barrel is least adapted to withstand high pressure. Furthermore, such priming charges"-lcave a minimum amount of harmful residue in the barrel, or none at all. A

. IVhile I have described my invention above in detail, I Wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit. of my invention.

I claim 1. A priming charge substantially lfree from fulminate of mercury containing tetranit-ro-methyl-aniln as the essential detonating constituent. i

2. A priming charge substantially freel -a fuel.

6. A priming charge containing tetranitro-methyl-anilin, an oxidizing agent, and antimony sulfid.

7. A priming charge containing tetranitro-methyl-anilin, potassium chlorate, and antimony sulfid.

8. A priming charge containing teivsra-y nitro-n'lethyl-anilin, an oxidizing agent, a i

fuelq and a netallic sulfo-cyanate. Y

9. Av primin charge containing tetranitro-methyl-anilin, potassium fchlora'te., a fuel, and a metallic sulfo-cyanatef 10. A priming charge containing 'tetra-f' nitro-methyl-anilin, an oxidizing agent, a fuel, and lead sulfo-cyanate.

11. A priming charge containing tetra,

nitro-methy'l-anilin, potassium chlorate, a

fuel, and lead sulfo-cyanate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. BUELL. Witnesses:

P. E. STRICKLAND, H. J. HAWKE, Jr. 

